A baroness is a title of nobility that is given to a woman with status in Britain.
Read on to find out what a baroness is and what comes with the title.
What is a baroness?
A baroness is the female equivalent of a baron.
The title is the lowest of the five noble classes in the peerage system in the United Kingdom.
The peerage system includes duke/duchess, marquess/marchioness, earl/countess, viscount/viscountess and baron/baroness.
The rank can be hereditary, meaning it has been passed down, or bestowed, meaning it was given by the monarch.
The title has origins in the English feudal system and is a rank of nobility and title of honour.
When addressing a baroness you would usually call them Lady and then their name or surname.
The wife of a baron is a baroness and all children have the courtesy title of “honourable”.
Peers still retain the right to vote in the House of Lords, the upper house of Parliament.
How do you become a baroness?
In modern times, people don’t need to be born into nobility or inherit a peerage to become a baroness.
The Prime Minister can give you the title, however, the honour must be approved by the King.
Nominees for a peerage are put forward by the different political parties.
The House of Lords Appointments Commission also recommends people for appointment as non-party-political life peers annually explains Metro.
One well-known baroness was the late Baroness Trumpington who died in her sleep aged 96.
She was a Bletchley Park codebreaker during World War II and gained the reputation of being rebellious.
Pictures of her flicking two fingers at former Tory Defence Secretary, Lord King, in the House of Lords were published worldwide.
When asked why she had chosen the name Trumpington on joining the Lords, she replied that she only knew two villages in Cambridgeshire, adding: “One was called Trumpington and the other was called Six Mile Bottom. Which one would you have chosen?”
You could also get the title of baroness if you marry a baron or other nobility.
The Queen Consort received the title of baroness Renfrew in 2005 when she married King Charles III.
Kate Middleton also received a baroness title upon her marriage to Prince William.
They both received the titles of Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus when they were married.
What’s the difference between a lady and a baroness?
The daughters of a duke, marquess or earl have the courtesy title of Lady before their forename and surname, according to Debretts.
Lady is a courtesy title – along with Lord and The Hon – which is usually borne by the sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, brothers, sisters and sisters-in-law of a peer, it adds.
However, the title of Lady is also used in line with the British honour system.
The annual honours list consists of knights and dames, appointments to the Order of the British Empire and gallantry awards to servicemen and women, and civilians, explains the BBC.
A knight is styled Sir and their wives Lady.
